104 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



really wonderful that it ever turned out w^ell. The 

 plate might not be good, or not well cleaned ; or the 

 chemicals might not be of the best ; or the plate 

 might be left too long in the iodine box, or taken 

 out too soon ; or left too long in the bromine box, 

 or taken out too soon ; or a ray of light might strike 

 it on putting it into the camera or in taking it out ; 

 or it might be left too long in the camera or taken 

 out too soon ; or too long in the mercury bath or 

 taken out too soon ; and even though all these pro- 

 cesses were right and regular, there might be some 

 other fault of omission or commission which we 

 were not aware of; besides which, climate and at- 

 mosphere had great influence, and might render all 

 of no avail. These little suggestions we considered 

 necessary to prevent too great a disappointment in 

 case of failure ; and perhaps our fair visiters were 

 somewhat surprised at our audacity in undertaking 

 at all such a doubtful experiment, and using them as 

 instruments. The result, however, was enough to 

 induce us never again to adopt prudential measures, 

 for the young lady's image was stamped upon the 

 plate, and made a picture which enchanted her and 

 satisfied the critical judgment of her friends and ad- 

 mirers. 



Our experiments upon the other ladies were equal- 

 ly successful, and the morning glided away in this 

 pleasant occupation. 



We continued practising a few days longer ; and 

 as all our good results were extensively shown, and 



